How To Choose A Reliable Bender Jul. 21, 2017

Pipe or tube bending represents a technological process, which is well-known both for professionals and DIYers. This procedure is performed in a variety of industries, including plumbing, bridge-building, architecture, and others. Installation of pipelines or even creation of interesting and complex architectural forms that grant the construction objects with a modern look – that is where bending is of great use!

Core Of Bending Procedure

The technological process of bending aims at changing of a slope of the geometrical axis of a certain tube under the influence of external loads or powers. During such processes, elastic and elastoplastic deformations arise in the walls.

During the processing of certain pipe, the shape of the cross section changes, the initial annular profile of the pipe becomes oval. The largest ovality is observed in the central part and decreases to the beginning and end of the bend. This is due to the fact that the greatest tensile and compressive stresses during bending occur in the central part of the dying. In addition, folds (corrugations) sometimes arise on the concave part of the bend. Ovality and folding adversely affect the operation of a certain pipeline, as they reduce the cross-section, increase the hydraulic resistance and are usually a place of clogging and increased corrosion of the pipeline.

The Main Bending Techniques

In a versatility of bending machines and tools, each employee or employer can choose the most relevant and efficient for certain demands. All the main types can be reduced to four methods:

Ram-type bending – is the oldest type, which utilizes a hydraulically driven ram, which forces the tube against the rollers. This method is quite popular with the square-type tubing. The main advantage is superior cost-efficiency, disadvantage – the process is less controllable than other methods.

Roll bending – represents a widespread way for large items or for creation of spirals and coils. The benders of such kind utilize the system with rolls, which guide the tubing into a certain direction to create the needed bend angle.

Compression bending represents a common way. The results of such method can be often seen at household or different commercial sites (for instance, towel bars or stands). Most often it is used for symmetrical bending – creation of similar bends on both sides of tubing.

Rotary Draw Bending provides plumbers with an opportunity to fully control such processes as wall thinning and ovality. The given type utilizes a mandrel inside the tube ID for the sake of tube interior support.

Getting Started Guide

So, after you understand all the essentials of this process and realize the forms or bends you’re up to create, it’s high time to regard the specificity of the material you work with – its OD, thickness of walls and centerline radius are of critical importance. Consideration of all important points helps to achieve perfect bends.

The main issue for consideration is the type of material – soft or rigid – which greatly influences the choice of a machine for this procedure. The next step is to detect the size or/and the diameter of the pipe or tubing. Another crucial moment is the presence of longitudinal welds on the tube or pipe – it can greatly affect the process and the results.

Benders For Your Needs

We at Megadepot proudly present you a wide range of state-of-the-art tools intended for assistance during the tube or pipe bending of any kind and created for your demands and needs.

If you need a bending device for your industrial work site and you’re up to tackle plenty of bends – the IntelliBender® by Greenlee is the most suitable machine for you. Being rugged and durable, it possesses astounding capabilities helpful for rigid conduits as well as EMT and IMC types. Moreover, such a bender allows users to broaden the scope of applicability by virtue of an additional shoe group, which allows widening of the bend radius. This robust machine represents a workhorse that pays for itself in no time.

There are devices aimed at hassle-free bends at small-lot manufacturing environments – foot or hand benders. Such tools as Yellow Jacket 60379, for instance, can be used for soft steel, copper, brass and aluminum tubing. It performs reliably and helps to reduce the user's fatigue during the process. Additionally, for bending on a small scale you can make use of a bending spring – a simple but still functional utility for hand use – the Yellow Jacket 60356, for example. It easily slips over the workpiece and greatly decreases the risk of collapse.

With a great versatility of modern tools and machines, each technician or plumber is now enabled to create proper angles and lines needed for conduit functions or decorative elements. To accomplish a perfect bend, users should pay proper attention to the tubing properties and then just rely on a qualitative bender available at our store – the results make your performance professional, reliable and profitable!